It is one of the reasons why diets fail. Or maybe it's THE reason. The attack of crazy hunger . We are not talking about real eating disorders, but about that strong hunger that comes to you almost suddenly, which seems impossible to resist.
Hunger attacks can be roughly of two types: real hunger and hunger . Real hunger occurs after a few hours from the meal, it manifests itself with weakness, mild cramps in the stomach, fatigue.
The languor can happen at any time, is what an old advertisement said "desire for something good", a cuddle. In short, the hunger makes you fat, if you indulge in eating, because you eat only when you are really hungry . So what do you do during hunger attacks? It depends.
What to do during true hunger attacks
It's real hunger if I haven't eaten for a few hours, if my stomach is gurgling, I feel tired or weak or irritable, if I miss a meal.
Or if I only ate carbohydrates (never leave them unmatched, without protein) in the previous meal or snack (just pasta and fruit, or just cookies or a packet of crackers). What to do? To eat! In moderation, a full meal or a well-balanced snack. If instead it is not lunch time, here are some tricks:
- Drinking : water temporarily raises blood pressure a little, creates a distension of the stomach and reduces hunger pangs
- Fruit : an organic apple with a peel and a nice glass of water will have a temporary satiating effect, thanks to the fibers of the apple, which with water increase in volume and give a feeling of satiety; add 3-4 almonds to get a balanced snack
- Ginger : chewing a piece or sipping it as an infusion will act as a tonic . Add it to a centrifuged fruit and vegetable (for example apples, carrots and celery) to get a boost of energy
- A natural white yogurt with 3-4 almonds and a pinch of bitter cocoa with stevia
- A banana : rich in potassium, it deflates and satisfies the palate with its sweet taste; add 2 walnuts or almonds for a balanced and delicious snack
- Wholemeal bread with some almonds, or with a square of Parmesan
- A smoothie with tofu, strawberries, raspberries and stevia
>> Discover the remedies against nervous hunger
What to do during hunger-hungry attacks
The countess at the faithful Ambrogio said it: "Mine is not really hungry: rather, desire for something good ". Here, if you have had lunch recently, if your stomach is not grumbling but you are assaulted by a ravenous attack of desire to eat (often very precise foods, often always at the same time), it could be boredom, anger, sadness, frustration . Then try to think like this: "Wait, don't eat right away, first do this beautiful thing, then eat." Obviously the " beautiful things " to do are subjective: we can only recommend some, the ones we like the most:
- To read
- Do the crosswords or a sudoku
- Call a friend
- Paint your nails in pink or green
- Take a walk in the park
- Take a bike ride
- Listen to your favorite music
- Dancing, singing at the top of your lungs: 2 minutes is enough
- Punch a pillow to vent anger
- A bath with fragrant salts
- Make a list of my very nice things to do, other than food, to use for the next hunger attack
The important thing is that it is an easy-to-do, practical, inexpensive but rewarding activity .
Remember the fundamental mental attitude: don't think "I can't eat", but tell yourself " first I do this fun / rewarding thing, then maybe if I still want to, I'll eat something".
Try! And let us know how it goes.
>> Herbal teas against nervous hunger
